SK G-Pro Wrenches - Tool Of The Month - European Car Magazine

SK G-Pro Wrenches
When someone lent me a set of SK G-Pro Wrenches to try out, frankly I was skeptical. I've been working on BMWs-usually out of necessity and rarely for profit-for more than 20 years. During that time, I've accumulated a heapin' helpin' of metric wrenches.

Combination wrenches? I've got long ones, short ones, and in-between-size ones, made by Easco and SK. Once, I found a Hazet 10mm combination wrench wedged between the radiator and the condenser on a German-specification BMW 635CSi. A technician somewhere in Germany must have lost it from his set. He probably left it atop the nose panel after adjusting the valves while doing the rest of the tune-up. I have Wurth offset wrenches and extra-thin open-end wrenches that go up to 32mm for fan nuts on contemporary Bimmers. I have BMW "special- tool" wrenches for all sorts of arcane jobs no one ever does. In my parts room, there's a big box of Heyco combination and open-end wrenches that come in BMW trunk-mounted tool kits-can't pass them up when a fallen Bimmer goes to that "Big Twisty Road" in the sky. I even have some ancient Craftsman wrenches that were custom home-bent and welded by Sam Memolo of "Two Guys Garage" on Speed TV to fit on BMW M30 engine starter bolts.

Thanks, Sam. There's nothing quite like watching your show on the shop TV here in Dingledorf, Penn., while using your tools. If there's anyone else here at the time, I always tell them about the time you gave me these wrenches. They don't believe me until they see your name etched on them.

Anyway, I thought, what the heck do I need with another set of wrenches? The SK G-Pro units are the newfangled "ratcheting wrenches" popular these days-but I've got lots of ratchets and sockets, too. And then I used the G-Pros. These things are pretty handy. There are lots of times when you can use a ratchet and socket due to space limitations, so you're left with using an open-end or box-end wrench. A ratcheting wrench is a huge time saver in these cases.

SK offers three different ratcheting wrenches: the Spline G-Pro, Reversible G-Pro and Locking Flex G-Pro.

The SK Spline G-Pr Pro wrenches feature a ratcheting box end with a spline shape that works on five fasteners: spline, six-point, 12-point, female Torx(r), square, and even on 50% rounded fasteners according to SK. The 90-tooth design delivers superior accessibility in tight spaces with a four-degree swing arc. SK states the non-slip feature on the open-end can be used on damaged fasteners that are up to 70% rounded.

The SK Reversible G-Pro wrenches feature a 15-degree head offset design, with a recessed shift lever shelf, which SK states reduces chances for the lever to break if accidentally dropped or hit-that would be pretty much every time it is used in my shop. It also reduces chances for internal damage to the lever mechanism due to any downward force on the lever. The ratcheting end has a 72-tooth design and delivers a 5-degree swing arc. The Reversible G-Pro line offers a wide metric range, from 6mm to 19mm.

The SoK Locking Flex G-Pro wrenches feature a convenient locking system that locks the flex feature in the desired position. It makes it easier and quicker to place and remove when you need access. The flex head has a wide 180-degree flex range, and features a 72-tooth design delivering a 5-degree swing arc.

All the G-Pro lines are available in metric and fractional sizes, and the sets are packaged in molded plastic cases. If I buy any more wrenches, I'll need to add another segment to my tool box tower. But for someone in the market for wrenches, the G-Pro line is an excellent choice.